Shuttle-binder-actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A binder control device for fly shuttle looms including a bar member with binder-engaging fingers fixed thereon and lever means for applying and releasing pressure on the binder through said bar member in timed relation with the receiving and picking of a shuttle from the shuttle box.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent [72]Inventors Joseph M. Budzyna East Douglas; Rocco H. Muiarone, Franklin,both of PAENTEDunv 16 ml SHEET 1 UF 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH MBUDZYNA RoccoHMUccrARoNE PATENTENUV 15 17| 3,520,259

SHEET a nf 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH MBU DZYNA ROCCO H MUCCl/xreom- PATENTEUNnv16 Isn SHEET 3 UF 3 4mvENToR JOSEPH MBUDZYNA ROCCO HMUCCIARONEmflwbilluyvt BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION This is a continuation inpart of our copending application Ser. No. 814,049 filed Apr. 7, 1969for Shuttle Binder Actuating Mechanism.

With the demand for an increase in speed of fly shuttle looms, it becamenecessary, in order to assure proper boxing of a shuttle, to control thepressure applied to a looms binder in timed relation to the receivingand picking of the shuttle from the shuttle box. That is to say, it isdesirable to increase the binder pressure when receiving the shuttleinto the shuttle box to properly arrest it and to prevent a reboundthereof. Additionally at time of picking, the binder pressure should berelieved to permit the shuttle to leave the shuttle box unrestricted.

Mechanisms have been devised to control the binder pressure upon ashuttle by means of the motion transmitted by the looms crankshaft tothe lay beam via the pitman arms. Two such mechanisms are shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,874,727 and 3,012,586.

These mechanisms performed their intended functions satisfactorilywithin the limits of the loom speeds of the looms on which they weredesigned to operate.

With the demand for a still further increase in the number of picks perminute of a loom, the shuttle-binder-actuating mechanism according tothe instant invention was developed. This mechanism utilizes afloating-type front binder and with fewer components relative to theknown mechanisms, it provides an improved and positive means forapplying and relieving the pressure on a binder in timed sequence withthe receiving and picking of a shuttle from a shuttle box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The shuttle-binder-actuating mechanism of thepresent invention features a torsion bar that is supported beneath theloom s shuttle box and includes a pair of spaced finger elements fixedlyassembled thereon. These finger elements extend in a generally upwarddirection and the ends thereof are disposed so as to contact the side ofthe binder that forms the forward side of the loom s shuttle box. Alever member is also fixed to the torsion bar and extends to a positionadjacent to the loom s crank arm or so-called pitman.

A depending bracket is adjustably attached to the forward side of thepitman and supports a follower member at its lower end. This followermember is positioned so as to maintain contact with the end of thelever, which extends from the torsion bar, and as the pitman performsits intended function said follower is caused to pivot the leverdownwardly to apply a torsional twist to the torsion bar. As thefollower rises the untwisting of the torsion bar forces the end of thelever upwardly to maintain contact with the follower. This twisting anduntwisting of the torsion bar moves the upwardly directed fingerelements in such a manner so as to apply and thence relieve pressure onthe binder in timed sequence with the picking cycle. It is a specificobject of the invention to provide a positive means for first applyingand then relieving pressure on a binder in timed relation to the shuttlepicking cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view showingthe loom s pitman and the means fixed thereto for pivoting the leverextending from the torsion bar,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and partially in section showing thetorsion bar according to the invention and the finger elements forapplying and relieving binder pressure fixed thereon,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showingfurther detail of the looms shuttle box, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the means for yieldably mountingone of the finger elements on the torsion bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the drawing,FIG. l illustrates the parts of a loom which function in conjunctionwith the invention and includes a crankshaft 10, a crank arm or pitmanIl that provides the usual connection between said crankshaft and theswords one of which is shown at l2.

A lay beam 13 is supported in the conventional manner by the loom swordsand by means of the pitman lll the lay is swung to and fro in awell-known manner for beating up the filling after it has been insertedinto the shed of the fabric.

As shown in FIG. 3, a binder M fomis the forward wall of the loomsshuttle box which also includes a back box plate l5 and a back box plateextension 16.

The looms lay end that is attached to the end of the lay and which formsthe lower surface of the shuttle box is shown at 17. The back box plate15 is fixedly positioned by any suitable means to the lay end and formsthe backwall of the shuttle box. The binder 14 forms the forward wall ofthe shuttle box and is loosely attached to the lay end by means of bolts18 and I9 (FIG. 3). A cross section of the binder reveals it to begenerally L-shaped and bolts 18 and 19 extend through slots 20 and 21(FIG. 3) provided in the foot portion of the binder. These boltsassemble in threaded holes in the lay end 17 and are locked in positionby means of checknuts 22 (one only shown in FIG. 2). The binder isslidable on the lay end within the limits of slots 20 and 2l.Additionally bolts 18 and 19 are provided immediately beneath the headsthereof with lipped slide collars 23 and 24 respectively which serve toprevent any possible upward movement ofthe binder.

The means for applying pressure to the binder 14 to arrest a shuttle 25as it enters the box and to relieve this pressure as the shuttle leavessaid box, as set forth by the invention, comprises a torsion bar 26.This torsion bar is disposed beneath the shuttle box and extends in adirection longitudinal therewith. One end of the torsion bar 26 isjournaled in an aperture 27 provided in a support block 28 that issituated adjacent the outer end of the lay. In spaced relation to thesupport block 28 the torsion bar 26 is further supported by a pair ofspaced bearing block members 29 and 30 which are attached to theunderside of the lay by means of bolts 3l and 32 respectively.

Immediately adjacent to the support block 28 the torsion bar 26 has anupwardly directed arcuated first finger element 33 fixedly assembledthereon by means of a pair of screws 34. The upper end of this fingerelement is identified by numeral 35 and is disposed so as to contactawear plate 36 that forms the outer end of the binder I4. A second fingerelement 37 is resiliently assembled, by means of a rubber torsionalbushing identified generally by numeral 37' and screws 38, on thetorsion bar 26 intermediate the bearing block members 29 and 30.

This finger element also extends in a generally upward direction and theupper end thereof which is identified by numeral 39 is adapted to engagethe side of an extension 40 which is attached to the inner end of thebinder by means of screws 4l (FIG. 3).

A torsion bar lever 42 having an integrally formed hub 43 has said hubfixed on the torsion bar 26 by means of screws 44. As shown in FIGS. land 2 this torsion bar lever extends downwardly for a portion of itslength thence rearwardly and the end thereof is disposed in a positionbelow and adjacent to the side ofthe forward portion of the pitman ll.

The rubber torsional bushing 37' is of the type such as manufactured andsold by the Clevite Corporation of Milan, Ohio and includes an outersleeve 50, a centrally disposed inner sleeve 51 of greater length thanthe outer sleeve (FIG. 4) and a rubberlike resilient material 52 bondedto and disposed -in the area between both the inner and outer sleeves.The inner sleeve is adapted to receive the end of the torsion bar 26 andin assembled position the portion thereof as shown in FIG. 4 whichextends beyond the resilient material 52 and outer l sleeve 50 isclamped within the hub 43 of the torsion bar lever 42 to fixedly attachthe latter and the inner sleeve 51 to said torsion bar. The outer sleeve51 is fixedly held within the split hub of the second finger element 37by means of screws 38. This torsional bushing 37 permits the secondfinger element 37 to yield when caused to impart a biasing force on thebinder when the torsion bar is actuated, and by comparison this biasingforce is substantially less than that imparted by the first fingerelement 33.

The side of the pitman adjacent its forward end has adjustably attachedthereto, by means of a capscrew 45, a depending follower support bracket46 (FIG. l). A lever follower 47 is rotatably supported by means of apin 48 to the lower side of the lever support bracket 46 and ispositioned so as to maintain contact with the upper surface of thetorsion bar lever 42 as shown in FIG. l.

In operation the lay beam is swung to and fro in a wellknown manner bymeans of the pitman l1 and its connection with the looms crankshaft land sword l2. As the forward portion of the pitman pivots upwardly anddownwardly, the lever follower 47 is caused to move the end ofthetorsion bar lever 42 in a like manner.

When the torsion bar lever is forced downwardly, it causes the torsionbar to twist in the direction ofthe indicating arrow 49 shown in FIGS. 2and 3. This motion effects the finger elements 33 and 37 so as to applypressure on the binder when the shuttle 25 is caused to enter theshuttle box. g

When the support bracket and follower move upwardly with the pitman, thetendency for the torsion bar to untwist causes the finger elements topivot away from the binder thereby relieving the pressure thereon toallow the shuttle to leave the box unrestricted. This untwisting of thetorsion bar causes the end of the torsion bar lever to pivot upwardly tomaintain continued contact with the lever follower 47.

A further advantage of the novel and positive means for applying andrelieving the pressure on a shuttle box binder, is that of the notedreduction in wear of the looms picker and the various components ofthepick motion.

LII

We claim:

l. In a fly shuttle loom having a shuttle, a lay beam. a shuttle box andbinder forming the end of said lay beam, swords on which said beam isrockable and a crank and pitman for oscillating the beam, means forapplying a biasing motion to the binder at said shuttle box for movingit into a position to arrest said shuttle as the latter enters the boxwhich comprises a. a bar member,

b. first and second spaced finger elements mounted on said bar memberand engageable with said binder,

c. means functioning in cooperation with said bar member for causingsaid finger elements to apply a biasing force on said binder, and

d. a further means for causing the motion of the pitman to betransmitted to said first-mentioned means for effecting timedapplication and release of the pressure applied to the binder by saidfinger elements during the receiving and picking of a shuttle from saidshuttle box.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the means functioning incooperation with said bar member comprises a lever having one endthereof fixedly attached to said bar member and the opposite endextending to a position in close proximity with said pitman.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said further means forcausing the motion of the pitman to be applied to said first-mentionedmeans includes a follower member engageable with said opposite end ofthe lever and carried by a follower support fixed to said pitman.

4. The mechanism according to claim l wherein said first finger elementis fixedly mounted on said bar member and said second finger element ismounted thereon by a resilient means so as to provide a biasing motionthereby on said binder of lesser force relative to the biasing forceapplied by said first fin ger element.

. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said resilient meanscomprises a rubber torsional bushing having a central portion fixedlyattached to said bar member and an outer portion fixedly attached tosaid second finger element.

1. In a fly shuttle loom having a shuttle, a lay beam, a shuttle box andbinder forming the end of said lay beam, swords on which said beam isrockable and a crank and pitman for oscillating the beam, means forapplying a biasing motion to the binder at said shuttle box for movingit into a position to arrest said shuttle as the latter enters the boxwhich comprises a. a bar member, b. first and second spaced fingerelements mounted on said bar member and engageable with said binder, c.means functioning in cooperation with said bar member for causing saidfinger elements to apply a biasing force on said binder, and d. afurther means for causing the motion of the pitman to be transmitted tosaid first-mentioned means for effecting timed application and releaseof the pressUre applied to the binder by said finger elements during thereceiving and picking of a shuttle from said shuttle box.
 2. Themechanism according to claim 1 wherein the means functioning incooperation with said bar member comprises a lever having one endthereof fixedly attached to said bar member and the opposite endextending to a position in close proximity with said pitman.
 3. Themechanism according to claim 2 wherein said further means for causingthe motion of the pitman to be applied to said first-mentioned meansincludes a follower member engageable with said opposite end of thelever and carried by a follower support fixed to said pitman.
 4. Themechanism according to claim 1 wherein said first finger element isfixedly mounted on said bar member and said second finger element ismounted thereon by a resilient means so as to provide a biasing motionthereby on said binder of lesser force relative to the biasing forceapplied by said first finger element.
 5. The mechanism according toclaim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a rubber torsionalbushing having a central portion fixedly attached to said bar member andan outer portion fixedly attached to said second finger element.